Full Fact, the UK’s independent non-partisan factchecking charity, is recruiting a Head of Communications.

It’s a unique opportunity for a creative campaigner and experienced communications lead. Our award-winning factchecking team provides millions of people with accurate information on important debates through our website, other online channels, and the media.

You’ll be responsible for the impact that work has: getting inaccurate claims corrected and changing attitudes and systems that help misinformation spread. You’ll mobilise and build public support to challenge inaccurate claims and the systems that make them easier to spread. You’ll work with colleagues to get our factchecking out to best effect online and through the media.

We’re looking for someone who can refresh our communications and build on our unique strengths: a brilliant team with lots of ideas, our reputation for impartiality, and a product people crave – reliable information without an agenda.

Tackling misinformation is a globally-important challenge. Full Fact has a strong reputation and working relationships with parliament, government, the media, internet companies, and others. You’ll be responsible for overseeing all our communications and external relations and raising our profile along with our impact.

Head of Communications is a key strategic role for Full Fact, which has recently grown to 20 staff including our world-leading automated factchecking team. As a member of Full Fact’s management team you will have an important role in the general direction of the charity and in maintaining our standards of independence, accuracy, and impartiality.

It’s a varied job with lots of opportunity in a supportive, ambitious and growing team.

If you are interested in applying but not sure you have all the skills, please do apply. We are open both to supporting learning on the job and to rearranging tasks within the team to suit the skillsets of the best applicant.

Please email the Director, Will Moy, via the button below in confidence with a CV and a covering letter.

We prefer to sift applications anonymously. Please use your initials rather than your name and leave identifying details such as email addresses off your CV and covering letter.

Applications close 10 am Mon 18 Jun.

Job description

You manage our communications including media and campaigns, digital, and external relations. You are responsible for getting the maximum impact from our factchecking work and for building and mobilising our supporter base.

You ensure we maintain the highest standards of accuracy and fairness, so that we protect and strengthen our reputation over the long term.

You run the communications team and are responsible for the wellbeing, management and development of its members. As a member of Full Fact’s management team, you have a responsibility for the charity as a whole.

The team you’ll be working with

Communicating is core to Full Fact’s mission. It involves the whole team.

Our communications team includes a Senior Policy Officer who handles the follow up work from our factchecking and our work with government and parliament; a Communications Officer responsible for digital and supporter communications; and one vacant position which you will help to shape and recruit for to deliver your agreed plan. You will also be working with our Fundraising Manager who manages fundraising apart from individual and online donations.

The rest of our management team – the Director, Editor, Head of Automated Factchecking, and Research and Impact Manager – all have strong networks and regularly represent Full Fact to a wide range of audiences.

Other members of the team, especially the factcheckers, play a key role in our communications and especially our media work.

Outcomes

Demonstrably maintain the highest standards of accuracy and fairness in all our external communications

Develop and agree a communications plan to refresh the way we communicate, including how we will evaluate success

Ensure that all staff are equipped to communicate effectively for Full Fact and use our brand well by developing guidelines, assets, and training

Oversee Full Fact’s stakeholder plan and programme of engagement

Develop our systems and capabilities so that Full Fact is always ready to respond quickly to new opportunities across all our channels and audiences

Work with the editorial team to get the maximum impact from our factchecks including reach online, media coverage including TV and radio, and follow up such as correction requests

Support the Senior Policy Officer in building an evidence base from our factchecking so it is compiled, analysed, publicised, and acted upon to tackle misinformation most effectively

Support the Communications Officer in engaging our supporters effectively and building our individual donor base

What we are looking for from you

Political impartiality and sensitivity

You are committed to the political neutrality of our work and a have good understanding of impartiality (please see the rules on our website)

Strong understanding of public debate in the UK and sensitivity to the political context we work in

Communications leadership

Strong audience advocate

Track record of success as a communications professional – whatever your specialist skillset – and a strong grasp of the fundamentals

Demonstrable ability to plan and execute successful campaigns using a range of communications channels and techniques

Commitment to evaluation and effective use of insight and data to drive communications

Personal skills

Strong analytical skills with a keen eye for detail

Excellent communication in person and in writing

Experience of representing an organisation at a senior level

Management skills and approach

You can run a team that’s effective and happy (even if this is your first management job)